Help Mac get veterinary care for abdominal mass

Hi there,

I'm the admin of N.Ireland Says 'NO' to Animal Cruelty and I'm here to ask for a little bit of help.

As many of you know, NISNTAC's mascot, Mac - the German Shepherd, has been my wee buddy for 4 years now and we're inseparable. His mother was liberated from a puppy mill in Cavan whilst she was pregnant with him and his siblings and I decided to take him on as my own little companion.

Anyone who has met Mac will testify to how sweet he is and how in tune he is with my own emotions. I have severe C-PTSD from a serious assault, and Mac, as a puppy, knew to apply pressure across my legs when I was having flashbacks/panic symptoms - even though they aren't necessarily visible. He really has helped me overcome quite a lot of mental challenges and has been a blessing to my life. Without him over the past few years, I'd have most likely become a recluse. He's given me the confidence to go out and face the world again.

Anyway, last month I noticed a bump on his right side ribcage. I took him to my vets and got some X-rays, bloodwork and a needle extraction done to try and ascertain exactly what it is. His bloods and the needle extraction came back normal, although my vet was still incredibly concerned given the x-ray and referred us to a specialist at Cromlyn House Veterinary Clinic in Hillsborough.

Mac received a CT scan and a biopsy under the care of Aidan at Cromlyn House. My insurance only covered the first £1,000, leaving me with a few more thousand to cover - and that's before we even think about what treatment to go for, when his biopsy is back. I had thought that my insurance covered up to £10,000 but that isn't the case.

We aren't exactly sure what type of mass is growing inside of Mac, but we do know that it is taking up a large space inside his abdomen and under his ribs, which is pushing his organs over to the left side of his body. We could see his kidney being pushed to the left very clearly on the CT scan.

I hate to beg and grovel on here and feel absolutely horrible in doing so but I would be eternally grateful for any donation, no matter how small.

I have spent the majority of my life at this point involved in animal rescue, animal rights campaigning and liberations - and I hope NISNTAC followers could help me out a little.

Yours faithfully,

Richie